What our Clients Say: Melli's Yarn Works

I want to start this off by saying how much I loved working with Candy. I have always enjoyed looking at her pictures, and seeing all her amazing pictures made me happy when she extended her photography services for my items!
 

After some thought I decided my loom knit items would benefit far more in being photographed professionally. Being that they’re so much bigger than jewelry, they have been a challenge for me to photograph.

So into a large box they went, ready to be photographed! Hats, scarves, wrist warmers, all into one giant box.

I waited to hear what Candy would say. I’m always slightly afraid my items won’t be loved, or liked. However, the day she received them she told me they were awesome and she couldn’t wait to photograph them!

She was very quick in photographing the items. She is extremely thoughtful and creative when taking pictures, she even had a special model up to show off my scarves!

"Melli" Verte's  Mannequin was designed and made her debut just for Melli's Yarn Works

 I had HUNDREDS of pictures to look through at the end. I might be exaggerating but each one of my items had at least 10 shots. And she even let me see them as she fixed them! They were brilliant, and she always asked my opinion, whether I was happy with them or wanted anything fixed.

Of course with her brilliant skills I don’t think I asked for anything to be changed!

I have to mention the ease of her website. Brief pause in my epic story. Her site allowed me to view the pictures as she posted them. I also goofed off and looked around her site at her past work and other awesome things :) 

And on top of these fantastic images, she watermarked them for me! As a shop owner, I do the entire process myself usually. Make the item, photograph. Edit and watermark. Post picture. Make listing. Share listing. So much work! But Candy was able to cut my work in half!

I got my products back incredibly fast. I believe it was under two weeks, maybe even just a week! Along with the items tucked back into their protective sandwich bags was a CD with all the pictures so that I would have my own copy.

Overall, I had an amazing experience working with her. My items were brought to life with her photography and my store looks so much better! She even modeled for me! How many of you can tell me your photographer modeled your items for you?!

I am extremely happy with her work and working with her. I highly recommend Verte Photo to everyone who needs photography help or wants their products to look incredibly epic. I’m going to be getting ready to talk to her about photographing another batch of my products because they just need it!

Melli's Yarn Works Store

Melli's Trinkets

Melli is part of the Indie A-list, all product images were provided by Verte Photography. Melli is the owner of both Melli's Yarn Works and Melli's Trinkets. You can learn more about her from her blog at http://mellistrinkets.blogspot.com/


Client reviews are posted without any editing done by myself, all opionins and comments are made by the author and they receive no compensation from me for providing this feedback.

The Retouching Line

Retouching, editing... re-creating or changing an image... it's a pretty hot topic. There are photographers who, like me believe less is more.

You don't like the wrinkles? You EARNED them.. every line, every imperfection... that's part of your life. Your up's, downs, and let's face it, it's reality. Just because you "can" fix, remove, or change something in photoshop... does it mean you should?

@VertePhotography "before"

I used to spend time on each image and "touch" everything that I posted for a client to view. Sometimes I would do serious retouching, sometimes just a little nudge that I felt made the image just a little better. Now, I can say I pull all my image through what I call my editing process - where I view them all, and occasionally make a small change. However, I don't retouch the imperfections on every image. That's my line. If you want it.. it's something that really bugs you, then I offer a retouching service for my clients. No problem. I "can" do it.

@VertePhotography  "after"

Like in my cooking though, I believe less is more. Your skin isn't one tone, you have highlights shadows... and different tones. I try not to remove that, even during retouching to "lessen shine" or "even skin tones". I don't want to make you look like someone else... I think your amazing just the way you are! That's not to say that I don't feel for kids with acne, or moms who's babies scratch themselves the night before a shoot. I get it... really I do! Sometimes it's simply necessary. Sometimes, it's just plain vanity. Your line between the two, is your choice.

Want me to cover your wrinkles in Photoshop? Sure... how about you tell me it bothers you ahead of time, so I can work with lighting, posing and even the magic of filters to soften and disguise them to start with? 

Your not Barbie, I am not going to make you look like Barbie. Plus... have you ever seen a portrait of Barbie? SHE even has imperfections! I feel like I am in my zone and I am LOVING my business. It's organic, natural and that's the photography I LOVE! This is my line in the sand: Retouching has become an additional expense to my clients as of last year, and I couldn't be more happy with that choice. No longer spending 40 hours retouching every image for one session, which frees up my time and energy! Now my clients really think about the images, and the work that they are getting done. For some, this hasn't limited the requests, and that's fine... I am happy to do them! I simply believe, they should be the ones to choose what their images look like, how they are going to be printed, preserved and passed down to other generations.... not me.

Next time you ask your photographer to "make it look like you lost 20 lbs" or that your 10 years younger... think about those amazing images you have of your grandmother, ones before digital retouching became the norm... are they priceless to you? Do you love them and her for who she is? Or, do you think less of her for the imperfections?

Wednesday Dinner

So today, since I am still recovering from July I thought I would turn the blog over to a fantastic woman I know! She's a smart, super crafty mom, who just happens to own her own online business, Violets Buds. I know I have introduced you to her before, and I hope you enjoy this great recipe she put together for us! It's coming to you just in time for back to school, when we can all use something easy and YUMMY! Enjoy!!!




After too many disappointing Chinese take-out meals, my husband Scott & I decided we had enough. He did some online research and found a few recipes that we tested. This recipe for Orange Chicken & Fried Rice is one we tried, made a few changes, and now is a regular in our house.

We take a shortcut to make it an easy weeknight meal by using frozen breaded chicken nuggets or tenders. The following recipe makes 4 servings, and can easily be increased. To get the main part of the Orange Chicken & Fried Rice started you will need: Frozen breaded chicken nuggets or tenders 2 cups Rice (white or brown)

Start by cooking the rice & chicken nuggets according to package directions. While the chicken & rice are cooking you can start the orange sauce.

Orange Sauce 1/2c water juice & zest of one orange 1/4c lemon juice 1 tbs rice vinegar 2 tsp soy sauce 2 tbs brown sugar 1/2 tsp ginger (we use powder, but fresh is good) 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (or a dash of cayenne pepper) 1 tbs cornstarch Mix all sauce ingredients thoroughly, then bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once it starts simmering, reduce heat & stir constantly until the sauce thickens. Turn heat to low. By now the chicken & rice are probably done. Next step is to start the fried rice.

Fried Rice Cooked Rice 1 cup Frozen mixed vegetables 1 cup Frozen shelled edamame 2 eggs, scrambled 2 tbs soy sauce 1 tsp brown sugar In a large skillet or on a flatop griddle pan, start by cooking the frozen mixed vegetables & edamame over medium heat with either a pat of butter or coconut oil. Add the rice, then sprinkle with the soy sauce & brown sugar, stir well. Push the rice & veg off to one side of the pan, then start frying the eggs (add black pepper if desired). When the eggs are done, mix with the rice & veg.

Right before serving, toss the chicken nuggets in the orange sauce to coat & serve over a bed of fried rice. Or, if you prefer, you can spoon the orange sauce over the fried rice & chicken.

I hope your family enjoys this easy, tasty meal as much as our family does!
 
Violet's Buds
http://www.facebook.com/violetsbuds
http://violetsbuds.storenvy.com/ 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/VioletsBuds
http://violetsbuds.blogspot.com/

Vacation Bumps

I bet you were wondering if I simply ran away!

Nope... I got back from our "vacation" last week and have been getting caught up in the office. Since we moved a week prior (what was I thinking) we had more then a few bumps in July. But now were back at it, and working on getting the office, studio... and house unpacked and organized, before our getaway weekend and school starting later this month!!

I am hoping to share with you some of the fun things we did, and the great families I was able to meet up with - since this wasn't just a vacation, but I spent loads of time toting around the camera bag and out in the hot Colorado sun shooting families, seniors and kids... it was a blast! The people I spent time with are truly the best, they wait all year for me to visit, and I LOVE them for it!

We did get out and enjoy some fun things that CO has to offer - and I will be sure to post a little about those places - because I highly recommend them if your visiting!

Just hang in with me in the next couple of weeks as I sort images, and work to get out disks to clients who have already been waiting 2 weeks for previews. I have to take care of them before I start "posting" any in depth topics again!

For now, enjoy whatever time you have left for this summer!
Happy Shooting!